First-Year Student Information

Congratulations on your acceptance to the 91괵죕! We hope your first year here will be a great introduction to the endless experiences that are available to you as a student on campus.

Living on campus maximizes opportunities for social, cultural, and extracurricular involvement and is positively linked to students�� persistence toward attaining a degree. The 91괵죕 believes that residence hall living is an educational opportunity that all new students should experience.

apply for housing as soon as possible

You may even apply for housing if you have not confirmed admission to 91괵죕. All housing assignments are made based on availability and the application date once admission is confirmed.

Apply for housing

first year live-on residence requirement

The 91괵죕 requires all first year students to live on campus. All first-year students must submit a housing application. Living on campus supports students�� success in pursuit of their degree. It also provides students with valuable life experiences in a supportive environment.

For students who would like to request an exemption, they must do so on the housing application, found at myHousing Portal.

First year �쐎n-campus residence�� requirement

All incoming first year students must fill out a housing application. No exceptions.

A student may apply to waive the on-campus requirement if they are:

Over age 21
A veteran or transfer student
Living with a parent or guardian from an easy commuting distance within a 35-mile radius of campus
Have exceptional circumstances that do not permit them to live on campus

Students who meet one of these criteria must request a first-year housing exemption on their application. A representative from 91괵죕 Residence Life will respond to the student regarding their exemption request.

Living on campus brings you access to:

Secure access to your building and residence hall room tied to your Mobile MaineCard
New people who will become lifelong friends
New experiences you won�셳 get anywhere else
Opportunities to learn skills for transitioning into adulthood
Included amenities like electricity, Wi-Fi, and streaming entertainment �� no extra bills
On-site laundry that you don�셳 have to pay for
Parking in one of our many lots with a parking pass
Free or low cost access to campus activities such as athletics, arts and cultural events
A robust student life activity calendar
More than 200 clubs, organizations and Greek Life
Ride the Campus Connector bus for free
Easy access to academic support like tutoring, career counseling and healthcare
Academic and personal support from trained residence hall staff and university personnel
University Police available 24/7
Access to a large river and trail system as well as MaineBound activities

Simply put: When you�셱e on campus, you are supported in class and beyond. Academically, students who live on campus have proven to be more successful in attaining their degree.

Because all first-year students are required to.

A first-year student is enrolled in, or seeking to enroll in, classes at the 91괵죕 for the first time within one calendar year of their high school graduation.

Any 91괵죕 operated residence hall.

The exemption request is in the housing application accessed through the .

If the exemption is granted before the start of the academic year, your contract will be automatically canceled �� no fee.
If the exception is granted during the year, you will be reimbursed through a credit on your student account for a pro-rated amount.

Yes. You must fill out a new application for housing and we will be happy to welcome you to campus.

Housing Application Tips

Apply for housing even if you have not confirmed your admission to 91괵죕.
Housing assignments will be released on July 15.
Housing assignments are made based on availability and the application date once admission is confirmed
91괵죕�셲 residence halls include non-break and break housing as well as two suite-style buildings for upper class students.
91괵죕 residence halls do not include general use kitchens, but all floors have microwaves in lounges.
As part of your application you must choose a meal plan. Details at .
Laundry is included in your housing and available on-site.
Honors College students:
Apply and confirm admission early.
is limited and fills quickly.
You must have accepted the Honors College invitation before applying for Honors housing.
When selecting a roommate, BOTH students must be enrolled in the Honors College to be eligible for Honors housing.

communities within umaine residence halls

Living Learning Communities (based on academic majors)

Themed communities (based on shared interests)

Virtual communities (residential & online communities)

Requests for Living/Learning Communities and Themed Housing will be assigned based upon space availability.
Learn more about them here: /reslife/residence-hall-communities.

Communities within 91괵죕 residence halls

First�몑ear students may request general first year housing. They may also request up to three themed communities or Living and Learning communities.

What communities are available at 91괵죕?

91괵죕 offers:

Living Learning Communities (based on academic majors)
Themed communities (based on shared interests)
Virtual communities (residential communities with online components)

Requests for Living/Learning Communities and Themed Housing will be assigned based upon space availability. Learn more about them here: /reslife/residence-hall-communities

When do I move in?

Move-in is part of the Maine Hello (dates change annually so be sure to follow the website). More specific details will be announced closer to August but you may reference our Residence Hall Opening/Closing page in the meantime.

Property Insurance

Students are strongly encouraged to have property insurance for their personal belongings. The University does not insure student belongings while they live on campus. Comprehensive, affordable property insurance is available through . For more information, check out our list of what to bring to campus.

Roommates & Roommate Requests

Follow the steps while in the Housing Portal to find the perfect roommate before July 1 prior to the start of the fall semester.

That’s all you need to do for this step.

“Turn on my profile” by checking the box at the top. This enables you to search for and be searched for as a roommate.

Select the things you are willing to share with others looking for a roommate and any information you would like to share about yourself and the media platforms you would like to use. SAVE.

�쏳oommate Search�� now appears on the left. Use this to search for a compatible roommate.

If you already know who you want to live with, �쏳oommate Groups�� is active. If you have been invited to a Roommate Group, it will appear here. Just select your choice or create a Roommate Group (instructions below).

If you are creating a Roommate Group, remember that if the student you’re adding to the roommate group has not completed a housing application, you will not be able to add them yet. They must have a completed housing application in the system to be invited to join a roommate group.

4a. Create a Roommate Group

Name Roommate Group (ie, Sally�셲 Besties, etc) �� Save.
If you are the person creating a Roommate Group and wish to live in a double with a roommate, add your group member (roommate) by searching for them OR by adding their school email address (@maine.edu). You may also search for a roommate by clicking on “Roommate Search” from the left side menu.
Once you have found your person, click on �쏛dd to roommate group�� and add them.
Click on �쏳oommate Groups�� again. You can now see the members of your roommate group and an invitation to join your group has been sent to the member you have added. They must log into the myHousing Portal and accept the roommate group invitation.
Once your roommate has accepted the invitation to be part of the group, a green check mark will appear by their name. Housing Services will definitely pair you together once both students have a green check mark.

ready to live on campus?

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